Beaver Lake dam
Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake, located in Gunnison, Colorado, is a state-regulated water resource managed by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Constructed in 1962, this Earth dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, with a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet and a surface area of 27 acres. The dam stands at a height of 8 feet, with a spillway width of 24 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 150 cubic feet per second.
Managed by CDOW and USDA NRCS, Beaver Lake provides vital habitat for fish and wildlife in the area, making it a key asset for conservation efforts. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is deemed to have moderate risk management measures in place. Despite its relatively small size, Beaver Lake plays a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and maintaining water resources in the region, making it a significant location for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and observe.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Beaver Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal River Ab Avalanche C | 619 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Bardine | 87 cfs | → |
| North Fork Gunnison River Near Somerset | 711 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek Above Iron Point Gulch Nr Bowie | 6 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Creek At Highway 133 At Mouth Nr Bowie | 5 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Emma | 285 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beaver Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Bogan Flats Group Campground
- Bogan Flats Campground
- Bogan Flats
- Mcclure
- Mcclure Campground - Paonia Rd
- Erickson Springs
Fishing spots
- Beaver Lake Swa (Marble)
- Emerald Lake (Crested Butte)
- Paonia Reservoir
- Lake Irwin
- Meridian Lake
- Christine Lake
Paddle runs
- Bogan Canyon
- South Fork--Headwaters To Beaver Lake
- Crystal Mill Falls
- Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With South Fork
- North Fork--Headwaters To Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Boundary
- Deep Creek
More reservoirs
Track Beaver Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Beaver Lake
Where does the data for Beaver Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Beaver Lake.